Friday, April 04, 2008
GPCi for April 12th 2008 release at the LCBO
Top picks for less than $20
2006 LOS VASCOS GRANDE RESERVE - $15.95
2005 PERRIN & FILS VINSOBRES LES CORNUDS - $17.95
Top picks for less than $30
2004 MUGA RESERVA - $23.95
2006 TORBRECK WOODCUTTER'S SHIRAZ - $25.95
2005 SYAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $26.95
2006 D'ARENBERG THE LAUGHING MAGPIE SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $27.95
Spain (Rioja)
2004 MUGA RESERVA - $23.95
A consistent favourite from Rioja, the 2004 Reserva is comprised of 70% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha (Grenache) with the remaining 10% divided between the Mazuelo and Graciano varieties. Exceeding its Reserva status, which only requires 12 months, the wine was aged for 24 months in oak barriques before bottling in May of 2007. Look for black cherry, strawberry, tobacco and toasty oak aromas and flavours in this medium-bodied, well-balanced wine. Very food-friendly, it's a must with roasted game, lamb chops or pasta in a hearty mushroom sauce.
GPCi - I have loved this winery since I started loving Spanish wines (one of my first loves in wine...). expect everything described above and more. in other words, Muga know how to make a great wine that reprepsents Rioja Reserva. I would definately buy 2-4 bottles and compare it with its previous vintages. Stay tune for the Gran Reserva (probably within the next 2-3 years).
2004 CVNE VIÑA REAL PLATA CRIANZA - $17.95
DOCa Rioja
WS=90: Plush and generous. Blackberry, coffee and mocha flavors mingle over ripe, firm tannins. A big, rich wine, but remains graceful. Drink now through 2015.
GPCi - CVNE is another great producer from Rioja. This is their Crianza version - the young and simple yet great. for that price and the fact that it can be cellared for 7 years, that's a no brainer. I'd buy 3-6 bottles.
France (Bordeaux)
2003 CHÂTEAU PIPEAU - $39.95
WS=90 ; Intense aromas of crushed berry, smoke and toasted oak. Full-bodied and very chewy, with a vanilla, coffee and berry aftertaste. Loads here. Best after 2009.
GPCi - I've been adictively buying this St. Emilion (right bank) wine since 1999 (mostly though Futures). I just received my case of their 2005 and I can't wait to try it. The 2003 is a great full body wine that can be enjoyable with a juicy steak or by itself. It's worth every penny. Buy 3-6 bottles. It could easily lay down for 10-12 years.
France (Rhone South)
2004 CHÂTEAU DU TRIGNON GIGONDAS - $27.95
IWC=91: Dark red. Intensely aromatic nose offers powerful scents of blackberry, cassis, lavender and graphite. Expansive and impressively sweet, with concentrated dark berry flavors, supple tannins and a long, juicy finish. This is delicious right now.(Josh Raynolds, Jan./Feb. 2007)
GPCi - Altough I'm a big fan of good Gigondas like this one, if I have to chose between spending $28 on this wine or two bottles of the Cote du Rhone-Villages (see next one below), I'd chose the latter. They are from the same "family" (same type of flavors) and for immediate-short time cellaring. that's a skip for me.
2005 PERRIN & FILS VINSOBRES LES CORNUDS - $17.95
AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages
The Perrins have 100 acres of vineyards in Vinsobres, a village which takes its name from a 17th century bishop from the area.
WS=90 : Tight and structured, with a healthy dose of toast covering dark chocolate, tar, blackberry and currant flavors. The fine-grained finish really stretches out, boding well for moderate cellaring. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2008. (James Molesworth, May 31, 2007)
GPCi - Côtes du Rhône-Villages is the highest catagroy within Côtes du Rhône. see my comments about the Gigondas above. I would buy 2-4 bottles of this wine.
Chile
2006 LOS VASCOS GRANDE RESERVE - $15.95
The legendary family behind Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux is wine royalty. Twenty years ago, its members recognized Chile's potential for greatness and began investing in this venerable estate in the Colchagua Valley. The Grande Réserve is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the estate's finest plots. Packed with cherry, wild berry, and plum flavours with notes of mint, tobacco and spice, this intense and juicy Cab will pair well with beef or lamb kebabs hot off the grill.
GPCi - Jim M, this one is for you. You tried it in the US (I think?) and liked it. This is an excellent wine for a great price. buy a case with no hesitation and enjoy during the weekdays.
Australia
2005 SYAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $26.95
Pyrenees, Victoria
RP = 91-93 ; A barrel sample of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was superb. It boasts an opaque blue/purple hue along with notes of blackberries, white flowers, cedar, and toasty new oak. Beautiful purity, great texture, and fabulous length should result in an impressive wine.(Wine Advocate Issue 168 - Dec 2006).
GPCi - I find the Cab Sauv from Victoria very different from the ones from the south (McLaren Vale etc.) - they have this "Beautiful purity" that RP talks about. I'd buy 2-5 bottles.
2005 D'ARENBERG THE FOOTBOLT SHIRAZ - $21.95
WA; Jay Miller = 89 ; The 2005 The Footbolt Shiraz was aged for 12-18 months in a mix of new and used French and American oak. Purple-colored, it exhibits an aromatic array of fresh herbs, plum, cranberry, and black cherry. Medium-to full-bodied, on the palate spicy blueberry and licorice notes emerge. The wine has very good depth and concentration, ripe tannin, and a medium-long finish. It will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2015.
GPCi - seems like d'Arenberg didn't make the best of the 2005 Footbolt - usually his wines score higher. Regardless, I was always a bigger fan of the Laughing Magpie. So if I need to choose, I'll skip this one.
2006 D'ARENBERG THE LAUGHING MAGPIE SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $27.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
WA ; Jay Miller = 92 : The 2006 The Laughing Magpie is composed of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier. Deep crimson/violet in color, it offers up notes of cherry, ginger, black tea, tar, and blueberry. Medium to full-bodied, layered flavors of cherry, blueberry, and dark chocolate make an appearance accompanied by ripe tannin and excellent concentration leading to a long, refined finish. It will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well through 2020. (Oct. 2007)
GPCi - That's a definite buy for me. Not a simple achievement - that's the 6th outstanding vintage in a row for McLaren Vale (the 2006 vintage got 94 by RP). A continious and consistent high quality of the Northern Rhone blend by d'Arenberg. A great wine. I'd buy 2-6 bottles.
2004 SANDALFORD CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $24.95
Margaret River, Western Australia
James Halliday = 94 : Very good colour; elegant, medium-bodied with fine structure and texture; pristine blackcurrant and cassis; controlled tannins and oak, long finish. Drink [until] 2015. (winecompanion.com.au, Feb. 2006) .
GPCi - we don't get too many wines from Margaret River here. The Sandalford Cab Sauv is one of this region jewels. I had the 2001 and 2002 and they are outstanding and for the right price. These wine compete with the $60+ wines from the same variety hands down.
2006 TORBRECK WOODCUTTER'S SHIRAZ - $25.95
Barossa Valley, South Australia
WA ; Jay Miller = 92 : The 2006 Woodcutter's Shiraz was sourced from six sub-regions of the Barossa. The wine was aged for 12 months in large, neutral French oak and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Purple-colored, it has an attractive array of pepper, spicy blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry muffin aromas. Full-bodied and opulent on the palate, the wine delivers gobs of meaty, full-flavored blue and black fruits to accompany its forward, easy-going personality. Drink this incredible value over the next 4-6 years. (Oct. 2007)
GPCi - If you like the fruit-bomb Shiraz that Torbrek produces, this one is for you. And that's another better option to the Footbolt. Great value for great Shiraz. Buy 2-4 bottles.
2006 LOS VASCOS GRANDE RESERVE - $15.95
2005 PERRIN & FILS VINSOBRES LES CORNUDS - $17.95
Top picks for less than $30
2004 MUGA RESERVA - $23.95
2006 TORBRECK WOODCUTTER'S SHIRAZ - $25.95
2005 SYAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $26.95
2006 D'ARENBERG THE LAUGHING MAGPIE SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $27.95
Spain (Rioja)
2004 MUGA RESERVA - $23.95
A consistent favourite from Rioja, the 2004 Reserva is comprised of 70% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha (Grenache) with the remaining 10% divided between the Mazuelo and Graciano varieties. Exceeding its Reserva status, which only requires 12 months, the wine was aged for 24 months in oak barriques before bottling in May of 2007. Look for black cherry, strawberry, tobacco and toasty oak aromas and flavours in this medium-bodied, well-balanced wine. Very food-friendly, it's a must with roasted game, lamb chops or pasta in a hearty mushroom sauce.
GPCi - I have loved this winery since I started loving Spanish wines (one of my first loves in wine...). expect everything described above and more. in other words, Muga know how to make a great wine that reprepsents Rioja Reserva. I would definately buy 2-4 bottles and compare it with its previous vintages. Stay tune for the Gran Reserva (probably within the next 2-3 years).
2004 CVNE VIÑA REAL PLATA CRIANZA - $17.95
DOCa Rioja
WS=90: Plush and generous. Blackberry, coffee and mocha flavors mingle over ripe, firm tannins. A big, rich wine, but remains graceful. Drink now through 2015.
GPCi - CVNE is another great producer from Rioja. This is their Crianza version - the young and simple yet great. for that price and the fact that it can be cellared for 7 years, that's a no brainer. I'd buy 3-6 bottles.
France (Bordeaux)
2003 CHÂTEAU PIPEAU - $39.95
WS=90 ; Intense aromas of crushed berry, smoke and toasted oak. Full-bodied and very chewy, with a vanilla, coffee and berry aftertaste. Loads here. Best after 2009.
GPCi - I've been adictively buying this St. Emilion (right bank) wine since 1999 (mostly though Futures). I just received my case of their 2005 and I can't wait to try it. The 2003 is a great full body wine that can be enjoyable with a juicy steak or by itself. It's worth every penny. Buy 3-6 bottles. It could easily lay down for 10-12 years.
France (Rhone South)
2004 CHÂTEAU DU TRIGNON GIGONDAS - $27.95
IWC=91: Dark red. Intensely aromatic nose offers powerful scents of blackberry, cassis, lavender and graphite. Expansive and impressively sweet, with concentrated dark berry flavors, supple tannins and a long, juicy finish. This is delicious right now.(Josh Raynolds, Jan./Feb. 2007)
GPCi - Altough I'm a big fan of good Gigondas like this one, if I have to chose between spending $28 on this wine or two bottles of the Cote du Rhone-Villages (see next one below), I'd chose the latter. They are from the same "family" (same type of flavors) and for immediate-short time cellaring. that's a skip for me.
2005 PERRIN & FILS VINSOBRES LES CORNUDS - $17.95
AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages
The Perrins have 100 acres of vineyards in Vinsobres, a village which takes its name from a 17th century bishop from the area.
WS=90 : Tight and structured, with a healthy dose of toast covering dark chocolate, tar, blackberry and currant flavors. The fine-grained finish really stretches out, boding well for moderate cellaring. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2008. (James Molesworth, May 31, 2007)
GPCi - Côtes du Rhône-Villages is the highest catagroy within Côtes du Rhône. see my comments about the Gigondas above. I would buy 2-4 bottles of this wine.
Chile
2006 LOS VASCOS GRANDE RESERVE - $15.95
The legendary family behind Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux is wine royalty. Twenty years ago, its members recognized Chile's potential for greatness and began investing in this venerable estate in the Colchagua Valley. The Grande Réserve is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the estate's finest plots. Packed with cherry, wild berry, and plum flavours with notes of mint, tobacco and spice, this intense and juicy Cab will pair well with beef or lamb kebabs hot off the grill.
GPCi - Jim M, this one is for you. You tried it in the US (I think?) and liked it. This is an excellent wine for a great price. buy a case with no hesitation and enjoy during the weekdays.
Australia
2005 SYAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $26.95
Pyrenees, Victoria
RP = 91-93 ; A barrel sample of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was superb. It boasts an opaque blue/purple hue along with notes of blackberries, white flowers, cedar, and toasty new oak. Beautiful purity, great texture, and fabulous length should result in an impressive wine.(Wine Advocate Issue 168 - Dec 2006).
GPCi - I find the Cab Sauv from Victoria very different from the ones from the south (McLaren Vale etc.) - they have this "Beautiful purity" that RP talks about. I'd buy 2-5 bottles.
2005 D'ARENBERG THE FOOTBOLT SHIRAZ - $21.95
WA; Jay Miller = 89 ; The 2005 The Footbolt Shiraz was aged for 12-18 months in a mix of new and used French and American oak. Purple-colored, it exhibits an aromatic array of fresh herbs, plum, cranberry, and black cherry. Medium-to full-bodied, on the palate spicy blueberry and licorice notes emerge. The wine has very good depth and concentration, ripe tannin, and a medium-long finish. It will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2015.
GPCi - seems like d'Arenberg didn't make the best of the 2005 Footbolt - usually his wines score higher. Regardless, I was always a bigger fan of the Laughing Magpie. So if I need to choose, I'll skip this one.
2006 D'ARENBERG THE LAUGHING MAGPIE SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $27.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
WA ; Jay Miller = 92 : The 2006 The Laughing Magpie is composed of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier. Deep crimson/violet in color, it offers up notes of cherry, ginger, black tea, tar, and blueberry. Medium to full-bodied, layered flavors of cherry, blueberry, and dark chocolate make an appearance accompanied by ripe tannin and excellent concentration leading to a long, refined finish. It will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well through 2020. (Oct. 2007)
GPCi - That's a definite buy for me. Not a simple achievement - that's the 6th outstanding vintage in a row for McLaren Vale (the 2006 vintage got 94 by RP). A continious and consistent high quality of the Northern Rhone blend by d'Arenberg. A great wine. I'd buy 2-6 bottles.
2004 SANDALFORD CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $24.95
Margaret River, Western Australia
James Halliday = 94 : Very good colour; elegant, medium-bodied with fine structure and texture; pristine blackcurrant and cassis; controlled tannins and oak, long finish. Drink [until] 2015. (winecompanion.com.au, Feb. 2006) .
GPCi - we don't get too many wines from Margaret River here. The Sandalford Cab Sauv is one of this region jewels. I had the 2001 and 2002 and they are outstanding and for the right price. These wine compete with the $60+ wines from the same variety hands down.
2006 TORBRECK WOODCUTTER'S SHIRAZ - $25.95
Barossa Valley, South Australia
WA ; Jay Miller = 92 : The 2006 Woodcutter's Shiraz was sourced from six sub-regions of the Barossa. The wine was aged for 12 months in large, neutral French oak and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Purple-colored, it has an attractive array of pepper, spicy blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry muffin aromas. Full-bodied and opulent on the palate, the wine delivers gobs of meaty, full-flavored blue and black fruits to accompany its forward, easy-going personality. Drink this incredible value over the next 4-6 years. (Oct. 2007)
GPCi - If you like the fruit-bomb Shiraz that Torbrek produces, this one is for you. And that's another better option to the Footbolt. Great value for great Shiraz. Buy 2-4 bottles.
